Monday, February 01, 2010

Vitamin, minerals may reduce eczema risk in children

Increased intakes of beta-carotene, vitamin E, folic acid, and iron may reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. Children with the highest average intakes of the four nutrients were found to have significantly lower risks of atopic dermatitis, than children with the lowest average intakes, according to findings published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Results showed that the risk of AD was 56 per cent lower in children with the highest average intakes of beta-carotene, compared to the lowest. Moreover, dietary vitamin E, folic acid, and iron were associated with 67, 63, and 61 per cent reductions in AD risk, added the researchers. The dietary intake data was also matched by data from the blood samples, with the highest average levels of alpha-tocopherol associated with a 36 per cent lower risk of AD, while retinol was associated with a 26 per cent lower risk. “These findings suggest that higher antioxidant nutritional status reduces the risk of AD and that such risk-reduction effects depend on nutrient type,” wrote the researchers.

Commenting on the possible mechanism, the researchers note that reactive oxygen species (ROS) from environmental pollution and the sun may promote oxidative damage to proteins in the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum), which would exacerbate AD. “Antioxidant nutrients have been proposed to counteract oxidative stress and inhibit the inflammatory response and are known to be possibly associated with the ability of the individual to restrain the inflammatory response and allergic diseases,” they added.

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